Nikki Storey
Cedarville,MI
Summary
Passionate, Positive Growth-Minded Leader with a balance of Leadership, Financial, and Development experience. Persistent and eager to lead and grow organizations. Skilled in strategic planning, problem-solving, and communication with exceptional understanding of business principles, project management and team leadership. Collaborative with relentless work ethic.
History of Achievement: Championed non-profit trade school through national accreditation and Federal Title IV funding processes. Standardized and streamlined policies and procedures, incorporating standards into the organizations culture. Implemented strategies to incorporate Institutional Assessment and Improvement Planning for organization, attaining an average 94% achievement of organizational goals last five years. Strategic growth of revenue achieving the highest enrollment and fundraising since the inception of the school. Awarded federal funding and secured private support for facility expansion and equipment. Student satisfaction scores annual average 94% and student placement rate 100% last five years. Recipient of industry leadership awards and accolades.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
President
Great Lakes Boat Building School
12.2020 - Current
- Great Lakes Boat Building School is nationally recognized as a leading provider of skilled trades education in the marine industry. www.glbbs.edu.
- Serves as principal executive officer of the school and as a director on the Board of Directors.
- Responsible for all school oversight.
- Developed and implemented 5-Year Strategic Plan growing enrollment, facilities, revenue (both tuition and donations) and educational programs achieving financial stability with a 94% success rate
- Lead all operational, financial, and strategic activities for the Great Lakes Boat Building School.
- Develop and execute innovative partnerships with marine industry companies, regional schools, and government entities to create career pathways for underserved youth.
- Prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), ensuring inclusive curricula and programs that provide opportunities for underrepresented groups in the marine industry
- Manage a team of faculty and staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
- Built strong relationships with government agencies, private donors, and corporate sponsors, securing over $5 million through grants and funding partnerships for facility and program development.
- Grew student enrollment by 5x’s and expanded educational offerings in three years.
- Launched a re-brand to include new marketing assets.
- Implemented new CRM for enrollment and development focused on developing processes to ensure accuracy of data.
- Led efforts to design and implement new curriculum pathways in marine trades, helping students gain certifications relevant to in-demand career roles
- Founded, led and launched SURGE: Detroit River event in collaboration with local schools, industry sponsors, and government leaders, reaching over 300 urban youth. The immersive event offered on the water boating experiences and hands-on career exploration opportunities.
Executive Director
Great Lakes Boat Building School
12.2016 - 11.2020
- Promoted to Executive Director to oversee operational and financial strategy for a large non-profit school focused on training students for careers in the marine industry
- Responsible for ensuring the efficiency of operations as well as implementing long-term strategic organizational goals for the future
- Collaborated with administrative and Instructional staff, board of directors, and committees & program advisory board to effectively assess and improve the school.
- Managed budget and oversaw day-to-day operations, including human resources, program management, development and financial reporting
- Monitored GLBBS performance against business objectives and targets through Institutional Assessment and Improvement planning
- Led cross-functional teams in the development and execution of growth strategies, expanding the organization’s reach nationally.
- Improved process efficiency by composing and implementing approximately fifty new policies and procedures
- Led implementation of student/grading software.
- Standardized and streamlined employee recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, performance evaluations, professional development, discipline and terminations
- Selected by Board of Directors to lead staff through a 2 ½ year accreditation process approval
- Implemented Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)
Business Manager
Great Lakes Boat Building School
04.2015 - 12.2016
- Coordinated the financial and administrative functions of the school.
- Ensured the effect flow of work between the component parts of the school, including coordinating activities with the board of directors and its committees.
- Reported monthly to the Board of Directors and prepared year-end reports and annual audit documents
- Provided leadership and professional development human resources strategies that increased employee retention and engagement
- Developed and implemented a performance management system that improved team retention over time an average from 1.5 years to 5 years
- Communicated with customers and vendors positively with particular attention to problem resolution.
- Created, managed, and executed business plan and communicated company vision and objectives to motivate teams.
Benefit/Payroll Specialist
War Memorial Hospital
06.2012 - 04.2015
- Responsible for coordination of employee benefits (health insurance, retirement, STD, LTD, FMLA, etc.), payroll (approximately 1,000 employees) and Worker’s Compensation
- Nominated for G.E.M(Going the Extra Mile) award 2012, 2013 and 2014
Administrative Assistant, Human Resources
Lake Superior State University
11.2006 - 05.2012
- Responsible for managing and coordinating Human Resources office functions of recruitment, benefit administration, labor relations and supervision of student employees
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Management, Human Resource Management
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan01.2004
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Budgeting, forecasting and cost control
- Problem-solving
- Strategic partnership connector
- Performance metrics & improvement
- Team building
- Approachable leader
- Transformative leadership
- Public Relations, Marketing & Outreach
- Organizational and program scaling
- Program Development and Implementation
- Compliance
- Organizational Policy and Procedures Development
- Conflict Resolution
- Brand Development
- Capital fundraising
Accomplishments
- 2024 Michigan Boating Industry Association Lighthouse Award
- 2024 Boating Industry “Profiles in Leadership”
- 2024 Outdoor Recreation Innovation Week panel and presentation
- 2023 Elevate Women in Industry Leadership Panel
- 2023 IBEX Workboots in the Boat and Workforce Development Panel
- 2023 Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Series Speaker (National)
- 2022 MRAA Darlene Briggs Marine Industry Woman of the Year
- 2022 Boating Industry “Women Making Waves”
- 2022 House of Representatives Congressional Record
- 2022 Upper Peninsula Non-Profit of the Year
- 2021 LCI Chamber of Commerce “Organization of the Year”
- 2020 Boating Industry “40 Under 40”
- 2020 Michigan Boating Industry Association Lighthouse Award
Board & Committee Service
- American Boating Yacht Council, Marine Trades Accreditation Program Review Commissioner
- Mackinac Economic Alliance, Board of Directors
- Community Foundation of Upper Peninsula, Board of Directors
- Les Cheneaux Community Foundation, Board Director, Vice-Chair
- Great Lakes Boat Building School, Non-voting Seat on Board of Directors
- War Memorial Hospital, Employee Development Institute Committee Member
- War Memorial Hospital, Quality and Risk Management Committee Member
- War Memorial Hospital, High Reliability Organization Committee Member
- Lake Superior State University, Support Staff Contract Negotiations, Administrative Team Member
- Lake Superior State University, University Presidential Search Committee Member
Timeline
President
Great Lakes Boat Building School
12.2020 - Current
Executive Director
Great Lakes Boat Building School
12.2016 - 11.2020
Business Manager
Great Lakes Boat Building School
04.2015 - 12.2016
Benefit/Payroll Specialist
War Memorial Hospital
06.2012 - 04.2015
Administrative Assistant, Human Resources
Lake Superior State University
11.2006 - 05.2012
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Management, Human Resource Management
Lake Superior State University
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